Tuesday, May 4, 1999 Published at 16:59 GMT 17:59 UKWallace demands Lib Dem ministersDonald Dewar surveys Alex Ferguson's pro-Labour posterThe leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats will refuse to form a coalition at Holyrood unless ministers are appointed from his party.

Jim Wallace was speaking as opinion polls suggested no party will have the overall majority needed to form an unassailable administration at Holyrood.

Mr Wallace, who was visiting the Irn Bru factory in Cumbernauld with Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown, said unless Liberal Democrat ministers were appointed in the Scottish Parliament executive his party would not be prepared to sup with others in a coalition.

He said the party is not interested in a looser arrangement hinted at by Labour leaders.

Jim Wallace says Lib Dems must form part of executive

"We're not going to put ourselves in a position where we are supporting a government position from the opposition benches and getting all the share of the blame when things go wrong and none of the credit when things go right," said Mr Wallace.

"If it comes that no agreement can be struck we are prepared to sit on the opposition benches."